Mechanical horse



Aug. 19, 1941. R. E. SHELDON MECHANICAL HORSE 4 Sheets-Sheet l FiledSept. -26, 1959 A torneys Aug. 19, 1.941. Y R. E. SHELDON` MECHANICALHORSE Filed Sept. 26, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 N MK Aug. 19, 1941. R. E.sHELDoN MECHANICAL HORSE Filed Sept. 26, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 .NN .Mml

Inventor .ZfJ/zoaz M )@m mul Mw gm A torne ys Y Patented Aug. 19, 1941UNITED l STATES PATENT'` OFFICE MECHANICAL nonsn Roy E. Sheldon, OceanPark, Wash. vilpplication September 26, 1939, Serial No. 296,651 scalms. (c1. aso-1.15)

The present invention relates to a mechanical horse and has for itsprimary object to provide a device `of this character mounted uponwheels and having drive means for operating the rear wheelsof the deviceand'also providing a steering' mechanism for the front wheels of thedevice controlled through manipulation of the head of the animal. j

A further object of the invention is to provide an eccentric mountingfor the front wheels of the device as Well as an eccentric connectionbetween the rear legs of the animal and the rear axles to provide amovement of the horse simulating that of a natural animal.

A still further object of the invention is to provide brake meansoperated by the manipula- ,tion of the stirrups.

A still further object is to provide apparatus of this character ofsimple and practical construction, which is strong and durable,relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise Well adapted for thepurposes for which the same is intended. Other objects and advantagesresidev in the details of construction and operation `as more fullyhereinafter described `and claimed, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings forming part hereof wherein like numerals refer'to like parts throughout and in ,which- Figure 1 is a side elevationalview with parts broken away and shown in section.

Figure 2 is a -top plan `view of the frame of the device also with,parts broken away and shown in section.`

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse `sectional view through the frontwheels of the device.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of one of the front wheels. C l'Figure 5 is a detail of the rheostat controlling the electric motor.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on a lineB--B of Figure 3.

Figure .7 is a transverse sectional view through the body of the deviceand showing the brake control mechanism connected with the stirrups.

Figure 13 is a similar view of the front legs thereof.

Referring noW to the drawings in detail wherein for 'the purpose ofillustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention,the numeral 5 designates the mechanical horse generally which includesthe body 6, the rear legs 1, front legs 8, neck 9 and head i0. The rearlegs 1 include a lower section Il connected to the upper portion of thelegs by means of a resilient metallic strap i2 having its opposite endsembedded and secured in the respective leg sections by rivets I3.

The front legs also include a lower section I4 connected to the uppersection f the legs by hingedly connected plates l5 which arelikewiseembedded in the respective sections of the legs. The flexible plate i2and the hinged plates l5 are arranged to provide for the longitudinalmovement of the body 6 relative to the lower leg sections of the horse.I The legs of the horseare supported upon a metal frame I6 whichincludes a pair yof fiat longitudinally extending spring steel framemembers I1 and a transversely extending connecting frame member I8. Thefront ends of vthe frame members l1 are riveted or otherwise secured tocollars Ai9 rotatably mounted on upstanding pins 20 projecting upwardlyfrom front wheel yokes 2l supported on stub axles 22 upon which theadjustable eccentric hubs 24 for the front wheels 23,are rotatablymounted. The

hubs 24 are movable disks eccentrically mounted in the frontl wheels andare adjusted to greater or lesser degrees of eccentricity by removingthe adjustment pins 23', each of which is placed in a hole in a hub 24and any one of a plurality of holes 24 in the inner circumference of thewheel. Thus by removing `a pin 23' and then turning the hub 24counter-clockwise and then reinserting the pin in another hole theposition of the axle may be regulated to center of wheel or to anydesired degree of off-center. Each wheel must be regulated independentlyof the other thereby simulating a trot, lope or gallop action in themechanical horse. f

The inner ends of each of the stub axles 22 are connected to an axlehousing 25 by means of universal joints 26, the universal jointsincluding a rod 21 slidably inserted in the housing 25, therod beingyieldably urged inwardlynby means of a coil spring 28, one end of thespring abutting a flange 29 on the inner end of the rod 21 and the otherend of the spring being held 'of said steering post.

' through the neck 55 underlying plates 51 on which the rear legs inposition by a cap 35 threaded on the end of the housing.

Formed on the housing 25 is a Support 3| and above which is positioned agear housing 32 and within which is iournaled'the .lower end of asteering post 33 rising from the -support 3|. Keyed on the post is aworm gear 34 operatively engaged by a worm 35 formed on the forward endof a sectional shaft 35, ,the rear endl of said shaft' having a bevelgear 31 operatively en-v aaged by a pinion 38 which is secured on thelower end of a vertical shaft 33 rising upwardly into th\e body 5.

'Ihe sections'of shaft 35 have portions connected together by universaljoints as shown at 35' and the central sections have their adjacent endsspllned together as shown generally at 35".4

The upper end of the shaft 89 is journaled inv a casting 40 recessed inthe front end of the body and secured to the upper end of the shaft is agear 4I driven by a gear segment 42 journaled on a pin 43, the segmentincluding an The head I5 ispivotallylconnected to the neck portion 3 bymeans of hinge members 45 and having its ends embedded in the neck andthe head is a 4leaf springr 45 adapted toyielda'bly return the headandneck intoa forwardly aligned position.

Surrounding the upper portions of the steering post 33 is a housing 41having its uppei` ends engaged by a cross-bar `48 provided with aslotted opening 49 through which the shaft 33 extends, the cross-barvbeing anchored in position by means of a collar 5l)V secured Bearingblocks 5I l are slidably mounted in.recesses 52 formed in the cross-bar48 and projected against opposite sides of the steering post by means ofcoil springs 53 to brace the upper end of the post and at the same timepermit the necessary movement of the cross-bar. At each endof thecross-bar 48 is a pivotedextension 54 having an'ges 55 slidably mountedln a guide 55 formed on one side of the adjacent collar I9.

' drum 'Il with v to cause a braking action extension 44 anchored in theneck 9 of the horse.

` steering mounting to the Aupper end V maintaining the From theforegoing it will be apparent that the steering of the front end of thehorse is accomplished by -means of the turning lmovement of the head I0which transmits such motion 9 to the gear' segment 42, then through thegear 4I, the shaft 39, and the shaft 35 to the worm 35. From the worm 35the steering movement is transmitted to the steering post 33 and thesupport 3|,which turns the wheels through its connection with the stubaxles 22. The cross-bar 48 at the upper end of the steering post 33serves to support the wheels in an upright Y position while at the sametime permitting independent vertical movement of each wheel due to thepivotal connection of each end -of the'bar' 48 with the extensions 54,-which latter are slidably carried at the top of the wheel yokes 2|.

' rivets Il.

.whee1s. a. mounting for each riveted to the longitudinal frame member I1 by Also secured to the rear axle 53 a brake which is operativelyengaged a brake band 1I arranged for operation by o.l brake rod 12extending upwardly into a. recess 13 formed the body 8 and connected,

in the underside of to an arm 14 secured on a cross-rod 15. extendingtransversely of the body and to the outer ends of which'are secured thestirrups 18; Accordingly upon a forward swinging movementof the stlrrups15 the brake band 1I4 will beapplied upon the rear axle 53. The electricmotor 88 is controlled by means of a rheostat 11 arranged in a recess 18in the body and controlled by a lever 18 projecting outwardly ofthe bodyadjacent the stlrrups 15.

l From the foregoing it` will be apparent `the movement of the vehiclewill cause a vertical movement of the legs of the horse substantially in,simulation of the motion of' a living animal.

Itis believed the details of construction and manner of operation of thedevice will be readily understood from the foregoing without furtherdetailed explanation.

lWhat is claimed is:

f1. A mechanical horse comprising a frame, front and rear wh elssupporting the frame, a

for the front wheels, stub wheels, universal connections and themounting providing movement for each wheel,

axles for the front between the axles asteering mechanism for saidaxles, an eccentrichub for the wheels, a. mountingfor each wheel risingfrom the axle andmeans connecting the upper ends of the last-namedmountings for same in an upright position during independ nt bodilymovement wheels.

2. A mechanical horse comprising a frame, front and rear wheelssupporting the frame, a steering' mounting for the front wheels, stubaxles for the front wheels, universal connections between the axles andthe mounting providing independent bodily movement foreach wheel,

a steering mechanism for said axles, including an upstanding steeringpost connected at its lower end with theaxles, an leccentric hub for thewheel rising from each axle and of the last-named mountings and thesteering post for maintaining the same in an upright position duringindependent bodily movement of the wheels.

Mounted on the cross-frame member I8 is a.`

storage battery 51 for driving an electric motor 58 from which the shaft59 extends throughthe pinion 50 for driving the gear 5I mounted lnthehousing 52 and within which the rear axle y 52 is journaled. v

'l'he rear ends of the longitudinal frame members I1 are bifurcated asshown lat 54 and secured to the rear axle housing by bolts or the like55. Secured tothe rear axle 53 and positioned within the furcatlons ofthe extension 54 are eccentrics are supported, thel front ends of theVplates being 1 steering mounting, universal 3. A mechanical horsecomprising a frame, front and rear wheels supporting the frame, asteering mounting for the front wheels, stub axles for the front wheels,universal connections between the axles and the mounting providingindependent bodily movement for each wheel, a steering mechanismkforthemounting, includfor the wheels, a mounting for each wheel rising fromeach axle and means connecting the upper ends ofthe last-named mountingsand the steeringV post for maintaining ,the same in an upright positionduring independent bodily movement of the wheels. v

'4. A mechanical. .horse comprising a frame, wheels supporting the frontand rear ends of theframe, stub axles for each front wheel, aconnections between each axle and the mounting providing for inde- `ofthe means connecting the upper ends pendentbodily movement of each irontwheel, means for Isteering the wheels through -the mounting and meansfor maintaining the wheels in steering relation and comprising a yokerising from each axle and a cross memberconnecting the upper ends oftheyokes.

5. A mechanical horse comprising a frame, wheels supporting the frontand rear ends of the' frame, stub axles for each iront wheel, a steeringmounting', universal connections. between each 10 axle and the mountingproviding for independent bodily movement of each iront wheel, means forsteering the wheels through the mounting and means for maintaining thewheels in steering relation and comprising ayoke rising from each l5axle, and a cross member pivotally connected at each end to the upperportion oi each yoke.

6. A mechanical horse comprising a frame, wheelssupporting the front andrear ends of the frame, stub axles for each .front wheel, a steering 20mounting, universal connections between each axle and the mountingproviding iorindependent bodily movement of each iront wheel, means forsteering `the'wheels through the mounting and means for maintainingthewheels in steering re- 25k lation and comprising a yoke rising `fromeach if axle, a collar rotatably mounted on a vertical axis at the upperportion of each yoke and a cross member pivotally connected at each endto said collars.` 30

7; A mechanical horse comprising a trame, wheels supporting the frontand rear ends `of the frame, stub axles for each front wheel, a steeringmounting including an `upstanding steering post, universal connectionsbetween each axle and the mounting providing for independent bodilymovement of each front wheel, means for steering the wheels throughl themounting and means for maintaining the wheels in steering relation andcomprising a yoke rising from each axle, acollar rotatably mounted on avertical axis at the upper portions o! each yoke, a cross-memberpivotally connected at each end to said ,collars and a yieldableconnection between the upper portion of the steering post and anintermediate part of the cross member.

8. A mechanical horse comprising a trame, wheels supporting the irontand rear ends of the frame, stub axles for each front wheel, a steeringmounting including an upstanding steering post,

universal connections between each axle and the mounting providingforindependent bodily movement of each front wheel and means for steeringthe front wheels comprising a pivoted head for the horse 'and a shaftand gear operating connection between the head and the-steering post.

9. A mechanical horse comprising a frame,V

iront and rear wheels supporting the frame, an

axle for the rear wheels, a pair of leaf spring supl ports each havingone end secured to the frameand their other ends secured to the rearlegs of the horse, cam devices mounted on the axle engaging the saidsupports to actuate the same and drive means for the axle.

ROY E. sHELDoN. l

